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If you were to pick one thing that was your purpose, what would it be?

You have a unique place in the world

We all originated in the same Great Nothingness. We all have the same start. We’re all made of the same energy. How do we end up so uniquely different? And why?

In the expansiveness of the Great Nothingness, what do you decide to come into this world to achieve?

What gifts were you given?

You have a gift. You have a special talent. You have more than one, but there’s a core calling, a core gift that drives your life. Sometimes it’s easy to spot, and other times the answer is more subtle.

I, for instance, have been a writer all my life. It’s how I learn and how I express myself. It’s one of my gifts, an obvious one since I love to do it. But the subtle gift, the one it took me half my life to recognize, is that I have the gift of being able to see the overview, to connect the dots, to see what needs to slide in where. It’s a gift that many others do not have, so it, too, becomes a gift I can share.

Your gift has been present and active throughout your life. Do you know what it is?

What has been a constant interest in your life? What do people always ask you to do for them? What is your over-arching pattern of service?

What action could you take to support your passion and your gifts?

Life is deeply rewarding when we put our gifts and our passion to work. Pick just one thing as a place to begin. What one small step can you take that brings you closer to expressing your passion?

My small steps include the bit of money I give to groups that protect the environment. I post and share about what I uncover in my spiritual exploration. I’ve become a shamanic practitioner in order to deepen my connection with the natural world and beyond, and I share that.

What calls to you right now as an action you could take to express your passion and your calling?

Think “outside the box”

A sudden, unexpected occurrence may focus your purpose. Go to the edges and find your place of service. A woman in the news suddenly became an activist because she thought the repealing of the Affordable Care Act would stop people from being organ donors and she had been personally affected by that.

A man taught chess to children to teach them critical thinking.

A couple adopted seven children in order to keep them together.

Explore your place of service

When you begin to get a feeling for your purpose, go exploring. Look at the many ways you could be in service. Take a few steps down that path and see what else is there, feel if it’s right for you and then either continue on or change direction.

For instance, I have been studying shamanism for a year. With each new step I learn, I see new possibilities. I explore them, I try them on for comfort. I go more deeply into the aspects that resonate deeply, that call to me. And I do more of that. My place of service is unfolding. I cannot rush it. I can only explore it more deeply and let it organically reveal itself.

You will not know the effect you have

You may not get a lot of feedback on the positive effect your work is having. You may have to trust your heart to tell you. Listen for the ripples that come back to you from people whose lives you’ve touched. Take them into your heart and know you are in service.

Put your individual purpose into a four-part sentence

I help (who)
To do (what)
So that they can (what)
I do this by…

Here are some of mine:

I help spiritually inquisitive explorers
To gain clarity about esoteric concepts
So that they can creatively incorporate them into their life
I do this by creating and sharing posts and books and podcasts.

I help people who want to sing a deeper song
To explore their inner voice
So that they can shine their light more brightly throughout the world
I do this by the topics I choose to explore, the insights I share and the tangible steps I offer for applying an esoteric concept.

I help thoughtful, introspective people
To stay inspired and motivated
So that they can deepen their personal growth
I do this by sharing from my soul.

I help spiritually aware people all over the world
To find each other in a common cause
So that we collectively can make a profound difference in our life experience
I do this by my participation in groups on the internet.

I help a neighbor
To feel less lonely
So that her life feels more meaningful
I do this by having thoughtful and stimulating conversations with her.

I help people who are aging
To shift their concept of the limitations of aging
So that they keep on giving their gifts to the world
I do this by my example – an enthusiastic, productive, curious, inquisitive 84-year-old.

I help lift the energy of our world
By radiating light into every situation
So that those who feel it and see it are inspired to raise their own vibration
I do this by a daily inner practice of raising the level of my own inner radiance and projecting it into the world on both the inner and outer plane.

There’s nothing better than a clean slate. Perhaps clean sheets. A clean plate. A clean kitchen. Clean clothes. A shower after physical exercise. The New Moon signals a new beginning, a turning point, both the end and the beginning of a cycle. You can use it as a catalyst for a fresh start.

The New Moon is a perfect time to begin anew

Since we are made up of over 50 percent water, it makes sense that the moon affects us just as it does the tides. The first step to using the power of the new moon is to notice how the moon affects you. You may not have the same response I did. Notice when you are at your peak and when you are in rest mode. Plan your life accordingly.

Once I realized that I come to a slow crawl as the moon wanes and that I whip into a full gallop when the moon increases, I began to use that organic timing to support my choices and my actions.

Perhaps you journal your wins during the month along with a date. Note the difficult places along with the date. Look for a pattern and notice the stages of the moon. Look for the pattern and use that insight to guide your choices.

Check in with yourself

On the day of the New Moon, do the introspective work that’ll identify your starting place.

How do I feel right now? Check all levels – mental, physical and emotional. Be honest with yourself. This is your barometer, your starting place.

What happened in the last month? What new insights did you uncover? What friendships did you deepen? What did you accomplish that felt especially good? These are the gifts you were given over the past month. Offer gratitude for the gifts. These were the lessons you were given. Give gratitude for the lessons.

What worked and what didn’t work?

The more you can distance yourself and see the patterns you’re drawn to, the more adaptable you become and the more powerful the changes you can make.

As I continue to study shamanism, I find that some types of journeys are more powerful for me than others. Some of the ways to offer the work are more appealing than others. I get to notice that and pay attention to the work that calls to me on all levels – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

What new idea called to me? How does that align with my overarching place of service?

In shamanism, there’s an inner work transfiguration process of learning to simply radiate light from within and see and feel it moving throughout our world. It’s very powerful and I’ve added it to my daily spiritual practice. As I work with it, I begin to get ideas of how I can share it with others.

It may be all inner work, it may be physical-plane work with a small internet group. It may be one-on-one work. This transfiguration work may be focused on cities and countries or a species or element. I get to choose. And I need to keep choosing until I find what fits me – my needs, my time, my gifts.

It’s unfolding. I watch. I explore. I choose. And I repeat.

Release, Replace, Renew, Acquire

At the time of the New Moon, ask yourself what you need to change.

Release. You obviously will want to release what’s not working. It could be an action or an attitude. It could be a demanding friend or a limiting belief or a habit you want to change. What do you need to release that’s no longer supportive of you or the direction you’re going in? Take active steps to do this so you have room for what will replace it.

Replace. In my case, I need to replace “little movement” with “more movement.” What will that look like? When will I do that?Renew What have I let slide this month? How do I put them back in? Or do I want to? Even though I’d like to do more vLogs, studying shamanism seems to be my priority at the moment, so it’s not yet time to renew those.

Acquire: The more I learn, the more there is to do. So I have to choose. What’s important to me? Where do I want to put it in my life? What does that replace? I’ve immersed myself in the study of shamanism for nine months now. There’s another nine-month course I can take. Something is going to be replaced as I learn new things.

The time of the New Moon is a good time to be reflective. What is new? What do you want to release, replace, renew and acquire? Make a short list and let things unfold.

Tune in to what shows up in the coming month

We don’t know exactly what’ll show up in the coming month. I’m still at the “trying it on for feel” stage. I have to leave room to explore the new opportunities that present themselves.

Figure out a gentle measuring stick for what shows up. How does this feel? Do I have the time? Do I have the skills? Will this be a more impactful way to do my work than what I’m currently doing?

Don’t be in your head too much. Allow your inner voice to guide you in exploring the new opportunities and choices that show up.

Set an overarching goal for the coming month

Perhaps you mind-map an overarching flow for the coming month. Perhaps you brainstorm ideas on your computer. Check in with your feelings, notice the place you’re in now, and choose three steps that have a beginning, a middle and an end, steps that you’ll recognize as being completed. Beside the steps, note how you would feel about completing these steps.

Mine, for instance, might be:

1. Continue to let the practice of shamanism unfold and be open to the doors it opens.

2. Consciously add more physical movement and more time in nature to each and every day. Congratulate myself when I do.

3. Be open to making another one-on-one connection with a fellow light worker online.

4. Make room/time to explore whatever shows up and calls to me.

Make the objective broad rather than specific. Then let it unfold…

Build a ceremony around your choices and set new intentions around the New Moon

This introspective work is a major part of your preparation for the New Moon. You can ritualize it and seal your commitment if you create a Ceremony of Intention. As it’s dark at the New Moon, you can’t go outside and make a promise to a big moon but you can light a candle or sing a song or drum or rattle or dance. Or simply sit quietly in focused meditation. Do whatever calls to you that helps you set an intention for the month to come.

Prepare the space:

Give gratitude for the gifts you’ve been given

Set your intention for the coming months

Ask for insights and guidance. Then stay silent and listen. These nudges and ah-ha’s can show up at any time.

Seal your intention with a promise to nurture your intention for the next 30 days.

You could do intentional ceremonies at the Full Moon too.

Add a Moon Progress Process to Your life.

I have included a Deeper Song Process for Moon Evaluation and Intention-Setting. As I happen to love to journal, I put it at the beginning of each month so I can track, evaluate and shift.

If this seems like too much, simply circle the good days on your calendar and at the end of a moon cycle see where the high points were clustered. Then use that knowledge to become more productive.

The New Moon gives you a fresh start, a clean slate. What will you write on this coming month?

Deeper Song Process

Moon Evaluation and Intention Setting

What worked this month? Add dates and its place in the cycle of the moon

What didn’t work this month? Add dates and its place in the cycle of the moon

What new idea called to me? Add dates and its place in the cycle of the moon

Notice and record the pattern. When is your most productive period? Work that knowledge into your schedule.

What do I need to:

Release

Replace

Renew

Acquire (Learn)

What belief or expectation that I hold now do I want to change?

My overarching focus for this next moon cycle is:

Another quick way is to simply circle the good days on your calendar and then look back over the pattern.

“If you don’t have a timetable, you can’t be late.
If you don’t have a destination, you can’t be lost.”

-Conrad Stafford Johan, nature photographer, PBS Nature Channel

No Timetable

Think about that. No timetable. Just the organic flow of your day. Stop to look out the window at the clouds when you feel like it. Go for a walk and keep going until you are content. Only do work you love. How glorious to be able to simply tune into whatever you feel like doing and do that.

No Destination

Life is simply going to unfold, whether you plan on that or not. So you don’t really know where you’re going to end up because you haven’t made the choices along the way to get you there. What if an unexpected detour takes you somewhere spectacular your never expected? Be open to exploring detours.

Without a destination, you can simply immerse yourself in and enjoy the now, this moment, this second.

When was the last time you simply floated through a day?

Floated. No plans. Nap when you want to. Eat when you’re hungry. Be alone or not. Choices. Choices that are aligned with what you truly want. Do you have that kind of freedom in your life? Do you remember the last time you did?

Find your own rhythm

I’m lucky. I’m retired and can pretty much do what I want when I want. My opportunity then becomes how to get the most out of each moment. Not with a strain or effort, but with consciousness, an awareness of what my body wants, what my mind wants, what my soul wants. You have to listen within to get those messages.

Stop and breathe

Stop what you’re doing right now and take a deep breath. Let it move through your whole body, relaxing and releasing as it goes. Notice how that feels. Take another breath and let go of even more. Again, go within and listen to what calls to you, what you want.

You can do this anytime, anywhere and it’ll help you be more aware in the moment about what’s happening, and what you need. Pretty simple, right?

Listen

I get great advice from my inner voice. Sometimes it shouts at me; sometimes it whispers. But it always gives me great advice.

Listen beyond the words of those people with whom you speak. What are they not saying? What does their body language tell you?

Listen to the rhythm of nature, the unfolding cycles, the constant give and take of support. Copy that. Learn to ebb and flow, give and take, to simply let your life unfold.

Does the size of the crowd you draw to your work indicate the depth of its value? No. A big resounding “no.” Our true value is not measured in book sales or crowd sizes, promotions received or money made. The sole value of our work is in the depth of the impact it makes, the lives it changes. When your idea “turns the page” for someone, or gives them courage, or opens up new insights and encourages them to make new choices – and they take action – that’s when you change lives.

One life changed is a major impact

You’ve touched and changed more lives than you know. A smile when a person was sad, words of recognition of the spark someone shows, simply being in someone’s life as support. There are so many ways we have impact that seem to be unimportant because we don’t see how far-reaching our impact is.

The difference between process and purpose

I recently did a shamanic journey to discover my Soul’s Purpose. My partner in the shamanic course we’re both taking did that same journey for me too. We both got versions of the same theme but I realized that mine was more about my process while hers was about my overarching purpose.

We need to be aware of both. We need to understand our overarching purpose and then make certain the process we choose is supporting that.

My process is to explore the unseen world, write about what I discover and share it where others can find it. My purpose is to help someone brighten the light they bring to the world.

We all want to change hearts

Whatever the form our giving takes, we do it because we’re called to express ourselves in a particular manner and we want it to contribute in some way to the lives of others.

The person who builds homes helps build a family. The person who stocks shelves helps feed a family, as does the farmer and trucker and… We all have far-reaching impact. We just have to realize it.

Begin with the way you do your work

If you continually do your best work, are your best self and keep encouraging yourself to evolve, you’ll deepen your service. I have to write what I write and I have to share it, whether anyone reads it or not.

I hope they do. Actually, I know they do. I hope they find themselves changed, but my need to do this work is absolute.

I hear the stories of musicians who sing in any venue to any size crowd for years just so they can be heard. Then they go on to win The Voice.

There’s the African war orphan who saw a picture of a ballerina and knew that was what she needed and wanted to be, even though she didn’t know what it was. She was the last to be adopted in her orphanage but the woman who adopted her helped her realize her dream.

Michaela DePrince went from war orphan to major ballerina. The women who helped her had no idea how far-reaching her impact was when she helped this young girl realize her potential.

We don’t always get to impact a life in such a profound manner. But then, we never know, do we?

There are so many stories of people being changed by a mentor. Sometimes it’s that they were inspired by a person’s work, sometimes it’s something someone said or did in ordinary life. Inspiration and the power to change are everywhere in every moment.